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ABOUT US
A name that started
as a memorial.
Ryker is named after a German Shepherd whose grandfather never got his name right. That story is why the shop exists, and it is a fair preview of how we train: pay attention to the dog in front of you, not the label on it.
Training in Fresno since 2017
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy instructor
AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
RYKER'S STORY
01
Where the name came from.
From May 2015 to March 2017, Brittany, the previous owner of Ryker, unexpectedly lost 3 very important figures in her life: her grandparents, Tom & Janet Sawyer, who always supported her 200% in whatever she did, and Rykah, her German Shepherd who got her started as a dog trainer. While brainstorming a way to memorialize them, she remembered a story that made her realize she had already found what she was looking for.
From the day she brought Rykah home, Brittany's grandpa had always called him Ryker. No matter how many times she corrected him about the name, for the rest of Rykah's life, her grandpa called him by the wrong name. Brittany's grandma tried to help her correct her grandpa, but it was no use and she ended up calling Rykah by the wrong name as well. As far as Brittany's dog's name was concerned, his name was Ryker when her grandparents were around, and Rykah happily responded to them when they called.
Brittany knew immediately that the name Ryker was the perfect tribute to them all. Since then, Brittany has been able to honor their memory through Ryker.
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2013
Brittany Takes Ownership
02
HOW WE GOT HERE
More than a decade of training in Fresno.
We never stop learning, because there is no one size fits all approach to dog training.
Brittany Sawyer-Guthrie acquires the business, then known as Instinct Dog Training.
2015
Ryker Dog Training Is Born
Following the loss of Brittany’s grandparents, Tom and Janet Sawyer, the business is renamed Ryker Dog Training in their memory and in honor of Rykah.
March 2019
Ryker Moves to Its Current Location
Ryker moves into its current training facility at 58 E. Herndon Ave. in Fresno.
January 2024
Mel Takes Ownership
After starting as a Ryker client, later helping with puppy classes and eventually becoming a full-time trainer, Mel takes ownership of Ryker Dog Training. Brittany remains part of the team as an Assistant Trainer.
OUR SPECIALTIES
03
No one size fits all approach to dog training.
We opened the doors at our current location, 58 E. Herndon Ave, Fresno, CA, in March 2019. We were previously operating as Instinct Professional Dog Training until our name change in August 2015. Our training staff continues to expand their knowledge by attending educational seminars taught by various experts in our field. We use balanced training methods in order to tailor our training specifically to your dog's needs, and we provide a supportive environment for you to learn and ask questions throughout the training process.
OBEDIENCE
Every Day Manners
Four basic lessons covering basic obedience and the manners that make a dog easy to live with.
$795
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
Ruff Edges
Four private lessons of behavioral modification for reactivity, aggression, shyness or fearfulness, and separation anxiety.
$1,050
WE TRAIN, YOU WORK
Day Training
Your dog trains with us during the workday. Puppy, teen, 20 day and 30 day packages.
$995 - $2,150
IMMERSION
Board & Train
Your dog lives with a trainer. One week puppy, two week home manners, two week family dog, or the behavioral program.
$1,905 - $3,945
2 TO 6 MONTHS
Puppy Classes
Puppy Preschool and Puppy Kindergarten, six classes each, sorted by your puppy's age and vaccination status.
From $315
GRADUATES ONLY
Daycare
Structured daycare, offered exclusively to dogs who have completed an eligible training program with us.
Client Exclusive
04
THE TEAM
Meet your trainers
OWNER & TRAINER
Melanie
Melanie’s journey with Ryker started as a client with her own reactive dog, Roscoe. After seeing firsthand how much training could change life with a dog, she began helping with Ryker’s puppy classes in 2013.
Over the years, her role continued to grow, and in 2021 she transitioned into dog training full-time. In January 2024, Melanie took over ownership of Ryker Dog Training, continuing the business she had already been a part of for more than a decade.
Melanie loves getting to know clients and their dogs and seeing the progress they make from their first lesson to their last. Her approach focuses on practical, balanced training that works for both the individual dog and the family they live with.
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AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
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AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
ASSISTANT TRAINER
Brittany
Hello, I am the lead trainer and previous owner of Ryker Dog Training. When helping my clients and their dogs, I take a common-sense approach to training that takes their every day lives into account when coming up with a solution to a training problem. I want your dog to be a part of your family like my dog Rykah was a part of mine.
Over the course of your training, you may meet several different dogs who assist me in lessons. They provide a calm, confident distraction for your dog to work around. You may even meet our resident Dog Trainers in Training, my daughter Kira or my son Sawyer.
Brittany acquired the business, then known as Instinct Dog Training, in 2013 and helped shape Ryker into the business it is today. After more than a decade as owner, she passed the reins to Melanie in January 2024 and continues to be an important part of the Ryker team as an Assistant Trainer.
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AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator
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AKC Canine Good Citizen instructor
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AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
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Balanced training
Dogs, like people, have their own personalities and quirks. I tailor the training tools and program to the dog and owner in front of me instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Training should help your dog become an active member of your family.
Brittany, Lead Trainer
RYKER MASCOT & TRAINING ASSISTANT
Rufus
Rufus is Mel’s Golden Retriever, personal service dog, and a familiar face around Ryker. When he’s not working alongside Mel, he can often be found helping with puppy classes, training exercises, and socialization by providing a calm, experienced dog for other dogs to learn around.
Rufus has earned his AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Advanced Canine Good Citizen, Urban Canine Good Citizen, and Novice Trick Dog titles. As a working service dog, he also has plenty of real-world experience practicing good manners in busy public environments.
When Rufus isn’t working or helping out at Ryker, he enjoys playing with his friends and housemates, grabbing a Pup Cup from Starbucks, playing with his favorite toys (his beloved Lambies!), and taking trips to the beach.
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AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
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AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
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AKC Community Canine / Advanced CGC (CGCA)
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AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
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AKC Novice Trick Dog (TKN)
WHAT BALANCED TRAINING MEANS HERE
05
The right tool for your dog, explained.
Balanced training means we use the most effective tool for the dog in front of us, which could be food, slip leads, prong collars, e-collars, or many other tools available. By educating our clients on the proper use of each tool, we eliminate the confusion caused by misinformation.
You will never be handed equipment without being shown how and why it works. That is the part most owners are missing when they come to us.
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